England’s director of men’s cricket was booked on the 3am flight out of Lahore long before a miserable Champions Trophy exit was confirmed, but left with plenty to ponder.
Key is yet to sack a captain since taking on his role in April 2022 but, when the jetlag subsides, must decide whether Jos Buttler’s time is done.
It may be that Key is spared the most difficult decision.
Buttler did not sound like a man keen to stay on after the eight-run defeat by Afghanistan – a tantalising encounter in which Joe Root almost rescued England from the brink.
“I don’t want to say any emotional statements right now,” he said. “For myself and the guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities.”
A speech of defiance, it was not.